Introduction

When creating an online course, many people start with the same question:

“Should I teach using text, slides, or video?”

It may sound like a technical decision, but in reality, this choice directly affects:

• The learner’s experience
• The time and cost required to produce content
• The long-term scalability, updatability, and commercial potential of the course

This article will help you understand the true nature of each lecture format, know when to use it—and when not to, and most importantly, how to choose the format that aligns with your course goals, instead of simply following trends.

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1. There Is No “Best Format” — Only the Most Suitable One

A common misconception when building an online course is:

“Video is the most professional format.”

“High-quality courses must have video.”

“Text is only suitable as supplementary material.”

In reality, the effectiveness of a lesson does not depend on the format, but on:

• The learning objective
• The learners’ level and learning behavior
• Whether the content is conceptual knowledge, a process, or a practical skill

The same content can lead to very different outcomes:

• The wrong format → learners drop out
• The right format → learners understand faster, remember longer, and apply better

So before choosing Text – Slides – Video, it’s essential to understand each option.

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2. The Three Most Common Lecture Formats Today

Most online courses today are built around three main formats:

2.1. Text-Based Lessons (Text / PDF)

• Written content, often downloadable
• Suitable for reading, reviewing, and referencing

2.2. Slide-Based Lessons

• Key points presented using bullets, visuals, and diagrams
• Can be viewed online or exported as PDFs

2.3. Video-Based Lessons

• Instructors teach directly or record their screen
• Combines visuals, audio, and examples

No format is inherently “better.” The key question is whether it fits the type of content being taught.

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3. When Should You Use Text-Based Lessons?

When is text suitable?

• Conceptual content, definitions, and checklists
• Learners need to read quickly or revisit the material multiple times
• Topics that do not require dynamic visual demonstrations

Advantages

• Easy to update, edit, and expand
• Learners control their reading pace
• Ideal for busy learners and mobile users
• Excellent for SEO and evergreen content

Limitations

• Can feel boring if poorly structured or overly long
• Not suitable for emotionally engaging or highly visual content

Best practices for text lessons

Text does not mean “long.”

A good text lesson should:

• Use short paragraphs
• Have clear headings
• Include bullet points and concrete examples

👉 Text works best as the knowledge backbone of a course.

Suggested use on Ourdemy

• Reading / PDF lessons
• Supplementary materials for videos
• Writing assignments or reflection exercises

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4. When Should You Use Slides?

When are slides suitable?

• Content that needs to be summarized or systematized
• Frameworks, processes, and models
• Situations where learners need a clear overview at a glance

Advantages

• Easy to grasp key points
• Supports quick memorization
• Useful for review and reinforcement

Limitations

• Lacks depth if used alone
• Easily misused (too much text per slide)

Best practices for slides

Slides should not stand alone in an online course.

They work best when:

• Paired with explanations (text or video)
• Used as a conceptual map, not a detailed lecture

Suggested use on Ourdemy

• Online slides with downloadable PDFs
• Pre-reading materials for video lessons
• Module summaries

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5. When Should You Use Video?

When is video suitable?

• Teaching practical skills (design, cooking, software tools, etc.)
• Content that requires observing actions, expressions, or tone
• Building a sense of connection between instructor and learners

Advantages

• Builds trust easily
• Conveys emotion and motivation effectively
• Ideal for visual and auditory learners

Limitations

• Time-consuming and costly to produce
• Difficult to update
• Harder for learners to quickly find specific points

Best practices for video lessons

Videos do not need to be long or overly polished.

A good video lesson is:

• Short and focused on one key idea
• Clearly structured
• Supported by a text summary below

Suggested use on Ourdemy

• Short videos (5–10 minutes per lesson)
• Break content into smaller units
• Combine with slides displayed during teaching

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6. Quick Comparison: Text – Slides – Video

Criteria	Text	Slides	Video
Easy to update	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐
Fast learning	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Emotional impact	⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
SEO-friendly	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐
Production cost	Low	Medium	High

(This table is for guidance only, not a rigid standard.)

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7. How to Choose the Right Format

Instead of asking “Which format should I use?”, ask:

“What should learners achieve after this lesson, and in what context will they study?”

1️⃣ Based on learning objectives

• Understanding concepts or checklists → Text
• Grasping frameworks or structures → Slides
• Performing actions or practicing skills → Video

2️⃣ Based on learners’ study habits

• Short study sessions, frequent review → Text / Slides
• Focused learning, deep understanding → Video + Text summary

3️⃣ Based on update requirements

• Frequently updated content → Text / Slides
• Stable content → Video

4️⃣ Most effective trend today: combining formats

Highly effective courses usually combine all three formats.

👉 Simple principle:

The format serves the learning goal—not the other way around.

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8. Combining Formats for Optimal Learning

In practice, the most effective courses rarely rely on a single format.

Example of an ideal lesson structure

Option 1

• Short slides → Introduce framework and objectives
• Video → Explain and demonstrate
• Text / PDF → Summary, exercises, key notes

Option 2

• Video as the main teaching format
• Text for explanations and checklists
• Slides for review and consolidation

With Ourdemy, you can organize lessons by content type, helping learners:

• Know when to watch – read – practice
• Avoid information overload
• Easily return for review

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Conclusion

There is no best format—only the most suitable one.

Choosing a lecture format is not about following trends or copying other courses on the market.

The real goal is to help learners:

• Understand faster
• Apply more easily
• Complete the course at a higher rate

When content is clearly designed and formats are used appropriately, the learning experience becomes smooth and natural.

👉 At that point, the value of the course speaks for itself—without exaggerated marketing or overpromising.